Chapter 218 Just like you, I like other people's wives
"County Magistrate Liu's money, the iron ore on the mountain, and the warhorses and equipment sent by the Yan State people—not a single thing can be missing."
"..."
Yang Dali was utterly stunned and dumbfounded by Shen Yulou's words, feeling like he'd been fried crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Holy crap!
This is too ruthless, isn't it?!
He practically wants to flip the entire table over!
"This... this is impossible!"
Yang Dali stammered, "There are only three of us, how could we possibly..."
"Of course, I can't do it alone."
Shen Yulou patted his shoulder with a smile.
"But now, don't I have you?"
He leaned close to Yang Dali's ear and lowered his voice.
"Have you read 'Water Margin'? Do you know how the 'Birthday Gift' was cleverly stolen?"
Yang Dali paused, then his eyes lit up.
"Lord Shen, do you mean... to drug them?"
Of course, he knew the story of the 'Birthday Gift' being cleverly stolen; didn't Chao Gai, Wu Yong, and their gang just drug the wine and incapacitate Yang Zhi's group?
With their professional medical skills, wouldn't it be easy to concoct some potent anesthetic?
But then he became worried again: "But, if we rob the Yan State general's things, won't we be hunted by both sides?
There'll be nowhere to run, even to the ends of the earth!"
"Tsk."
Why are you so slow to catch on?
Shen Yulou patted his shoulder and said earnestly.
"The ones being hunted are you and County Magistrate Liu, what does it have to do with me?"
"Think about it, when the Yan State people arrive and find their things gone, what will they think?
They'll definitely assume Liu Wenxuan double-crossed them!
Besides, if you show your face and they see you, they'll be even more convinced that County Magistrate Liu did it.
Let them fight among themselves, we'll watch the show from the sidelines and take everything. Isn't this script more exciting than those 'cool' novels you read?"
Yang Dali listened, utterly bewildered, and finally gasped, sucking in a cold breath.
Poisonous!
Too damn poisonous!
This Professor Shen not only wields a scalpel expertly, but his cunning is even more intricate than a honeycomb!
But then he thought, if this really succeeds, wouldn't he, caught in the middle, become the number one wanted criminal for both sides?
Neither County Magistrate Liu nor the Yan State general would let him go!
"Lord Shen, then... then I'll have no way out!"
Shen Yulou saw through his thoughts, the smile instantly vanished from his face, and his eyes turned cold.
"If you don't do it, I'll kill you right now. You choose."
"..."
Yang Dali shivered instantly; what choice did he have?
Since death was inevitable either way, he might as well take a gamble!
With a mournful face, he could only accept his fate, quietly leading Shen Yulou and Madam Li out of the imperial prison.
The jailers had all been incapacitated by Madam Li, so their escape was very smooth.
As soon as they emerged, they saw in the courtyard outside a team of soldiers, armed with long sabers, patrolling in neat formations, their eyes fierce. They were clearly not ordinary bailiffs.
One of the commanding officers was tall and burly, with prominent temples, clearly a martial artist.
"These are all Liu Wenxuan's personal guards. That tall one is his trusted commander, named Wang Zhi."
Yang Dali whispered.
Shen Yulou frowned; this group was indeed not simple.
"Does this Wang Zhi have any weaknesses, or any leverage against him?"
"Yes!"
Yang Dali immediately said.
"That bastard is a lecherous fiend!
Before, because he looked at the County Magistrate's wife a few too many times in the backyard, Liu Wenxuan caught him, fined him a month's salary, and publicly whipped him twenty times.
That guy's wicked heart hasn't changed, and... and like you, he likes other people's wives..."
Shen Yulou:??
Why tell the truth so bluntly?
Shen Yulou's curiosity was piqued, "Is the County Magistrate's wife very beautiful?"
Yang Dali scratched his head, and a hint of a lewd expression flashed across his face.
"She is indeed a top-tier beauty. The County Magistrate's wife is named Su Qing.
Not only beautiful, but also educated and sensible, she enjoys reading and writing poetry, and has an exceptional temperament.
I... I had my eye on her for a long time too, but unfortunately never had the chance to make a move."
Shen Yulou gave him a sidelong glance, full of disdain.
"You useless fellow, you couldn't even find a girlfriend in modern times, and you still dream of getting the County Magistrate's wife? What pipe dreams are you having?"
"Do you think you're me?"
Shen Yulou's eyes darted, and a bold plan instantly formed in his mind.
He waved a hand at Yang Dali and instructed.
"Alright, stop fantasizing here.
A moment later, you go out and shout at the top of your lungs that Swear Not to Return has escaped, creating some chaos for me.
Then, tell me where the County Magistrate's wife lives; I'm going to explore the cave."
Yang Dali:??
Explore what now?
Yang Dali paused, then immediately understood. Looking at Shen Yulou's half-smile, his mouth twitched.
It's over.
Another woman is about to suffer.
He knew Professor Shen's methods too well; how many proud and aloof beauties, and how many mature and charming wives, weren't eventually charmed by his few words into falling head over heels and willingly throwing themselves into his arms?
This time, that talented and beautiful County Magistrate's wife would probably also fall victim.
Yang Dali accepted the order, took a deep breath, his expression as if he were going to bravely sacrifice himself.
He rushed out of the imperial prison, shouting at the top of his lungs, feigning panic.
"Help—Swear Not to Return has escaped!!!"
That shout was like throwing a firecracker into a calm pot of oil.
Boom!
The entire county yamen instantly erupted!
"Clang, clang, clang—"
"Seal all exits!!"
"Quick! To the backyard! Don't let him escape!"
Over a hundred elite soldiers, like a disturbed hornet's nest, buzzed into chaos in an instant.
Figures crisscrossed, the entire county yamen was thrown into an uproar, more bustling than a marketplace.
County Magistrate Liu Wenxuan trusted his secretary, Yang Dali, to the core.
The cunning ideas Yang Dali had given him, from sanitation to plague prevention, had made him a living Buddha.
And that wasn't all; Yang Dali had more than once mysteriously told him that, according to astrological calculations, the person who could complete that couplet was his destined nemesis, who would surely take his head in the future!
People in those days, especially those in high positions, were more superstitious. Liu Wenxuan was even more convinced of this.
Therefore, Swear Not to Return's life or death wasn't important; what was important was to ascertain whether he was indeed the fated enemy who had completed the second line of the couplet!
If he really was, then never mind if he was Great Hero Yan, even if he were Prince Yan, he had to die!
...In the back courtyard bedroom, Liu Wenxuan was bare-chested, diligently toiling on the body of a curvaceous concubine.
Just at the crucial moment, the shout of "Swear Not to Return has escaped" from outside startled him, making him shiver.
He instantly transformed from a proud and strutting rooster into a frost-bitten eggplant.
"Damn it!"
Liu Wenxuan cursed, pushing away the concubine, and fumbled to put on his clothes.
In the courtyard, the concubine and County Magistrate's official wife, Su Qing, who had heard the commotion, also came out, draped in their clothes.
"My lord, what happened?